Land reform to come under the spotlight in the Free State
Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Nonceba Mhlauli, is set to participate in land reform and communal property association engagements that form part of government efforts to accelerate land reform.
“The Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Nonceba Mhlauli, will join the Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development, Mzwanele Nyhontso, in two important engagements with land reform stakeholders in the Free State. These engagements form part of [the] government’s ongoing efforts to accelerate land reform, strengthen tenure security, and support beneficiaries towards sustainable land use and inclusive rural development,” the Presidency said on Sunday.
The Ministers will engage with land reform beneficiaries, highlighting progress made, addressing challenges, and reinforcing the government’s commitment to restoring land rights.
The programme at Loft Conference Centre in Bethlehem on Monday, 09 February 2026, will also include the handover of title deeds to beneficiaries.
On Tuesday, 10 February 2026, the Ministers will engage with communal property associations (CPAs) . The engagement will provide a platform for CPAs to present their experiences, challenges, and opportunities in managing communal land for the benefit of communities.
The session will take place at the Lavender Hill Country Estate in Bethlehem from 9am.
“These engagements reaffirm government’s commitment to meaningful land reform, improved rural livelihoods, and ensuring that land reform beneficiaries and communal institutions are empowered, supported, and sustainable,” said the Presidency. –SAnews.gov.za
The Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Nonceba Mhlauli, will join the Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development, Mzwanele Nyhontso, in two important engagements with land reform stakeholders in the Free State. These engagements form part of government’s ongoing efforts to accelerate land reform, strengthen tenure security, and support beneficiaries towards sustainable land use and inclusive rural development.
1. ENGAGEMENT WITH LAND REFORM BENEFICIARIES AND TITLE DEEDS HANDOVER
The first programme will focus on direct engagement with land reform beneficiaries, highlighting progress made, addressing challenges, and reinforcing government’s commitment to restoring land rights. The programme will also include the handover of title deeds to beneficiaries.
Details are as follows: Date: Monday, 9 February 2026 Time: 09:00 – 16:30 Venue: Loft Conference Centre, Bethlehem, Free State
The Deputy Minister will deliver remarks during the programme and participate in engagements with beneficiaries and stakeholders.
2. ENGAGEMENT WITH COMMUNAL PROPERTY ASSOCIATIONS (CPAs)
The second programme will focus on strengthening governance, accountability, and sustainability of Communal Property Associations. The engagement provides a platform for CPAs to present their experiences, challenges, and opportunities in managing communal land for the benefit of communities.
Details are as follows: Date: Tuesday, 10 February 2026 Time: 09:00 – 16:30 Venue: Lavender Hill Country Estate, Bethlehem, Free State
These engagements reaffirm government’s commitment to meaningful land reform, improved rural livelihoods, and ensuring that land reform beneficiaries and communal institutions are empowered, supported, and sustainable.
Members of the media are invited to cover both programmes.
Media enquiries: Ms Mandisa Mbele, Office of the Deputy Minister in The Presidency, on 082 580 2213 or mandisam@presidency.gov.za
Four children discharged following suspected food poisoning incident
Four children who were admitted following a suspected food poisoning incident in the Eastern Cape have been discharged from hospital, the Eastern Cape Department of Health said on Sunday.
“The Eastern Cape Department of Health reports that, following a suspected food poisoning incident in Msintsi near Fort Jackson, four of the seven affected children have been discharged, one remains in critical care, and two sadly passed away. Investigations are ongoing, with food samples and clinical tests underway, and a local spaza shop has been temporarily closed as a precaution,” the department said in a statement.
The four were treated at the Cecilia Makiwane Hospital, while the other child remains hospitalised at Frere Hospital.
The children (boys aged between two and six years) were taken to hospital at about 1 pm on Saturday with symptoms including weakness, vomiting, diarrhoea, and dizziness.
The children had eaten various food items, including instant porridge, rice, chips, and sweets.
“The Buffalo City Metro Health District outbreak response and Environmental Health teams were promptly deployed and worked alongside clinical staff and hospital management at Cecilia Makiwane Hospital,” said the provincial department.
Response teams conducted site visits in Msintsi, where they met with affected families and the ward committee.
The department further added that post-mortem examinations will be conducted on the deceased to assist in establishing the exact cause of death.
“As a precautionary public health measure, a local spaza shop has been instructed by Environmental Health Practitioners to temporarily close pending formal inspection,” said the department.
In addition, the department is working with the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality as part of a multi-sectoral investigation. The department is also providing clinical, environmental health, and psychosocial support to the affected families and will maintain ongoing monitoring and follow-up visits within the community while investigations continue.
“The Eastern Cape Department of Health extends its sincere condolences to the bereaved families and assures the public that every effort is being made to determine the source of the incident and safeguard the health of the community,” it said.
The department said it will communicate further updates as more information becomes available. –SAnews.gov.za
The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) (https://CSNigeria.org) decries the relentless wave of killings and abductions that continue to plague our nation. After years of repeated complaints and unfulfilled promises, violence persists unchecked, leaving more communities devastated and citizens weary of empty condolences that do not guarantee their safety. This renewed cycle of mass violence has turned our country into a field of grief, and CSN expresses its profound outrage and sorrow at the ongoing assault on human life and dignity.
Just between late January into February 2026, the recurring carnage has become a stain on the conscience of our nation. How can it be justified that, outside of war, over 160 innocent civilians were slaughtered in one coordinated attack in Woro, Kwara State? How do we explain the repeated killings and abductions in Agwara and Tungan Gero in Niger State, the wiping out of entire farming communities in Katsina and Kaduna, and the ongoing violence in Borno? This is not ‘instability’ but a massacre allowed by silence and a betrayal of every Nigerian’s right to live in peace.
The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria reminds our leaders that the Constitution is not a lofty document of ideals but a binding covenant with the people. When citizens are slaughtered with impunity and communities live in perpetual fear, the very foundation of governance is undermined. A government that struggles unsuccessfully to safeguard its people risks diminishing its moral authority to lead.
Silence in the face of such horror as we now have in Nigeria can hardly escape being labelled as complicit. Every unaddressed attack, every unpunished crime, and every unfulfilled promise deepens the wound of mistrust between the people and those entrusted with their protection. Nigeria cannot afford to normalise bloodshed or treat mass killings as routine tragedies.
It is necessary to remind ourselves that Nigeria is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, both of which affirm the right to life as fundamental and non‑negotiable. Yet, the state continues to treat this right as optional, allowing bloodshed to persist unchecked.
The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria therefore renews its call to the Federal Government to be purposeful in revisiting its strategies by considering the following measures: i. Intensify efforts in redeploying security forces strategically from ceremonial press centers to the actual frontlines where citizens are under siege. Seek assistance from anywhere it is safely available. ii. Identify, expose, and prosecute the sponsors and enablers of terror, regardless of their political, religious or social status. iii. Arrest and punish every perpetrator of violence; for impunity is nothing less than a license for further bloodshed. iv. Provide urgent relief, psychosocial care, and compensation to victims and their families, while guarding and rebuilding destroyed communities to restore hope and dignity to the indigenes of the land.
Nigeria stands at a crossroads. We cannot allow mass graves to define our national story. The blood of all innocent Nigerians cry out to heaven, and their memory must compel us to act with sincerity, courage and compassion. The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria calls on all leaders, political, religious, and community, to rise above division and work together to restore peace and dignity to our land. We urge every Nigerian to reject hatred and violence, and to stand firm in solidarity with one another.
As a people of faith, we entrust our nation to God’s mercy and pray for healing, justice, and reconciliation. May the sacrifice of the innocent not be in vain, but inspire a renewed commitment to protect life and build a Nigeria where peace and justice reign.
Very Rev. Fr. Michael Banjo Secretary General
Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria
Very Rev. Fr. Michael Nsikak Umoh Nat’l Director of Social Communications
Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria
– on behalf of Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN).
The Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs, National Community Abroad and African Affairs, Mr. Ahmed Attaf, held a working meeting on Saturday in Madrid with his Spanish counterpart, Mr. José Manuel Albares Bueno.
This bilateral meeting is part of an official working visit by the Minister of State to the Kingdom of Spain.
During the meeting, the two Foreign Ministers reviewed the state of cooperation and partnership between the two countries, exploring prospects for further momentum, particularly in the fields of energy, trade, investment, and transport, as well as judicial and consular cooperation.
On this occasion, both parties underscored the importance of the Spanish minister’s upcoming visit to Algeria to prepare for the eighth session of the Algeria-Spain High-Level Meeting.
The two ministers also exchanged views on several international and regional issues of common interest, foremost among which are developments in the Sahel-Sahara region and shared challenges in the Euro-Mediterranean region.
– on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria.
Engagements continue to resolve public scholar transport payment matters
The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) is calling for calm among all stakeholders as engagements with Public Scholar Transport Service Providers continue and processes to fulfil outstanding payments continue.
The department says it remains actively engaged with service providers in good faith to find an amicable and sustainable resolution to the matter.
“We reiterate our appeal for the uninterrupted provision of scholar transport services in the best interests of learners who depend on the programme for safe and consistent access to education,” the department said in a statement on Friday.
Earlier this week, the GDE acknowledged challenges currently affecting the province’s Scholar Transport Programme, which has resulted in some service providers halting operations and negatively affecting learners.
In response to the disruptions experienced, schools have been advised to prepare for the implementation of academic recovery and catch-up programmes to mitigate learning losses and ensure that teaching and learning remain on track.
“Learner safety, access to education and overall well-being remain our highest priorities. We are fully cognisant of the strain this situation has placed on our communities.
“We will continue to engage all affected stakeholders constructively and remain confident that these engagements will lead to a resolution. We therefore appeal for calm as we work diligently within the required processes to conclude this matter,” said Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane.
Meanwhile, the Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, is today hosting the Provincial Scholar Transport Stakeholder Engagement Meeting at the Johannesburg City Hall.
The engagement serves as a platform to advance key discussions on shared responsibilities on learners’ safety, compliance enforcement, and addressing challenges faced by operators within the sector.
“Issues up for discussion include, amongst others, traffic laws and regulations; licensing backlog; restructuring initiatives and operational challenges faced by operators,” said the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport.
The scholar transport stakeholder engagements are also aimed at promoting safety, reliability while enhancing the quality service of scholar transport in Gauteng. – SAnews.gov.za
Warning for severe thunderstorms in the Eastern Cape
The South African Weather Service (SAWS) on Sunday issued an Orange Level 6 warning for severe thunderstorms in the Eastern Cape.
“A cut-off low over the country is expected to result in thundershowers over the Eastern Cape. There is a likelihood that the expected storm may be severe and result in heavy downpours, damaging winds, hail, and intense lightning over Amathole, OR Tambo, Alfred Nzo District Municipality, and Buffalo City Metro,” said the weather service.
The flooding of roads and settlements, damage to infrastructure, property abd vehicles are among the impacts to be expected of the weather.
“Short-term disruptions to electricity supply can also be expected,” said the SAWS. The alert is in place for Sunday, 08 February 2026.
Western Cape Meanwhile, the weather service on Saturday issued a Yellow Level 4 weather warning for the Cape Winelands and Overberg areas in the Western Cape.
“Showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop over the Overberg and Cape Winelands on Monday from early in the morning. Some of these may become severe, leading to flooding and large amounts of small hail. Rainfall accumulations between 40-70mm are possible. There are indications of more than 100mm in places in the Overberg; however, the uncertainty regarding amounts and placement remains high,” it said.
The impact of the weather could lead to the flooding of roads and susceptible settlements, as well as danger to life when crossing of fast flowing stream.
“Large amounts of small hail/large hail can cause damage to vehicles and difficult driving conditions, especially where heavy downpours are present,” said the SAWS.
It further added that it will continue to give updates.
The weather warnings come as KwaZulu-Natal disaster management teams are on high alert for adverse weather conditions.
“The province faces a dual threat, with a Level 5 Severe Thunderstorm Warning for western and southern regions and a Level 2 Warning for the remainder of the province,” the provincial Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs said in a statement.
The MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) in KwaZulu-Natal, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, has directed that emergency response units prioritise and monitor several districts in the province. –SAnews.gov.za
The South African Police Service (SAPS) in the Eastern Cape is urging the public not to fall victim to a jobs scam that is circulating on social media.
The scam is purported to be related to SAPS vacancies in Jeffreys Bay.
The fake message is mostly circulated via WhatsApp, and it contains the false name of a captain purporting to be working for the SAPS in Jeffreys Bay, who must be contacted for queries about vacancies.
“The South African Police Service wishes to alert the public that this is a scam, and that all available vacancies are advertised through proper and credible media platforms, including the SAPS website. For any available SAPS vacancies, the public has a responsibility to verify those at their nearest police station,” the SAPS said in a statement on Saturday.
The police have opened an inquiry to unmask the culprit(s) and further lay criminal charges. – SAnews.gov.za
KwaZulu-Natal disaster management teams are on high alert today following weather warnings issued by the South African Weather Service (SAWS).
“The province faces a dual threat, with a Level 5 Severe Thunderstorm Warning for western and southern regions and a Level 2 Warning for the remainder of the province,” the provincial Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs said in a statement.
The SAWS issued an Orange Level 5 warning for the province with scattered to widespread showers and thundershowers expected over most parts of KwaZulu-Natal on Sunday, 08 February 2026.
The weather service said some of the thunderstorms are expected to become severe over the western and southern parts of the province and may be accompanied by heavy downpours.
The MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) in KwaZulu-Natal, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, has directed that emergency response units prioritise and monitor the following districts, where heavy downpours (exceeding 50mm), hail, and damaging winds are expected:
• uMgungundlovu District: Msunduzi, uMshwathi, uMgeni, Mpofana, iMpendle, Richmond and Mkhambathini. • uThukela District: Alfred Duma, Inkosi Langalibalele, and Okhahlamba. • Amajuba District: Newcastle, Dannhauser, and eMadlangeni. • uMzinyathi District: Msinga, uMvoti, and eNdumeni. • Harry Gwala District: Greater Kokstad, uMzimkhulu, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, and uMuziwabantu. • Ugu District: Ray Nkonyeni, uMzumbe, uMdoni, and uBuhlebezwe.
“A Level 2 warning for severe thunderstorms is also in place for the rest of KwaZulu-Natal, including the eThekwini Metro, iLembe, King Cetshwayo, and Zululand districts. While the impact is expected to be less severe than in Level 5 areas, the risk of localised flooding and lightning strikes remains high,” the department said.
The provincial department has urged residents to take necessary safety measures to safeguard themselves and their families. – SAnews.gov.za
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Wycliffe W. Njororai Simiyu, Professor and Chair of Allied Health Studies, Stephen F. Austin State University
East Africa loves football. From the streets of Nairobi and the markets of Kampala to the beaches of Dar es Salaam, the passion for soccer is an undeniable current running through the region. Yet, despite fan support, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania haven’t translated this enthusiasm into sustained international success.
A new book that draws on the career-longresearch of Wycliffe W. Njororai Simiyu explores the deep roots of the game in the region. It also examines the structural and gender challenges and the immense opportunities that lie ahead. We asked him about it.
How was the modern game introduced?
The sport is linked to the region’s colonial past. Britain established the East Africa Protectorate (which became Kenya) in 1895 and formally declared it a colony in 1920. Germany colonised mainland Tanzania (as German East Africa) in the 1880s, and control shifted to Britain after the first world war. Uganda became a protectorate in 1894 when Britain consolidated its control after a treaty with the Kingdom of Buganda.
So the game took root in the early 1900s, introduced by British settlers. Missionaries apparently introduced football to Uganda in 1897. At first it was a leisure activity for colonials and a tool for social control of the local population. It took up spare time and instilled British values and ideals.
The game was already popular in Britain. Institutionalised through the education system, sport was deemed to instil a sense of discipline and work ethic in young people. The competitiveness of sport in the British culture was exported to the colonised territories.
How did it change over time?
In east Africa, the game quickly took on a life of its own. Most east African societies valued physical activities like dance or wrestling. They found it easy to embrace sports. Football became a favourite.
The game transcended its colonial purpose to become a medium for regional interaction. Later it would also be a vehicle for nationalist expression as teams were formed along ethnic lines (something the British had used to divide and rule).
Fanatical support for local clubs and regional teams was replicated for national teams as they started playing in international matches. The inaugural international match between Kenya and Uganda was played in 1924. This was named the Gossage Cup in 1926 after a British soap manufacturer donated a trophy for the occasion.
Later Tanzania and Zanzibar joined to make it an east African tournament. The Gossage Cup not only fostered a sense of rivalry among the countries, it created a unique regional sporting identity that lives on today through its successor, the Cecafa Cup.
As east Africa gained independence in the early 1960s, football became fully integrated into the political and social fabric of the new nations. Football matches were even part of independence celebrations.
East African countries were quick to affiliate with the Confederation of African Football (Caf) and global football body Fifa. Before independence, clubs were already active and engaged in invitational tournaments. But after independence, national leagues were launched. These set out to identify the best players to represent each country.
Today, the sport’s deep connection to collective belonging is evident in rivalries between clubs like Kenya’s AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia, which often symbolise shared political underdog status and profound communal identity.
The football pitch is, in essence, an extension of the political landscape.
What have the challenges been in the sport’s development?
The most striking feature of football structures in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda is not their difference. It’s their shared organisational shortcomings. While each country maintains its own league and administrative body, their mediocre international performance stems from common, deep-seated issues.
The recent qualification of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania’s youth teams for the Fifa Under-17 World Cup marks a turning point for east African soccer. This is a direct result of strategic, targeted investment – mainly from Fifa’s development programmes – that’s finally bearing fruit. But the senior teams continue to struggle, even on the continental stage.
To date only Uganda has managed to reach the finals of the Afcon tournament (in 1978). No east African country has come even close to qualifying for the Fifa World Cup.
What’s gone wrong?
The challenges are a direct result of the three nations’ shared colonial and post-colonial experiences.
The main organisational issues plaguing football include:
Poor governance and leadership. Political intrigue and corruption within football federations undermine long-term development.
Weak financial management. Inefficient and opaque handling of funds leads to underfunding of development programmes.
Lack of resources. These include infrastructure, facilities, equipment and trained technical personnel.
These challenges create a cycle of short-sighted planning and administrative chaos. This hinders the development of elite talent and explains the region’s perpetual failure to consistently qualify for major tournaments. Kenya, for example, had to play most of its 2026 World Cup qualifying matches away in other countries with better facilities.
Where does the women’s game find itself?
The women’s game faces the same headwinds, often magnified by gender disparities. Although women have shown the capacity to perform and compete, chronic underfunding and weak governance are typically more pronounced than in the men’s game.
However, the recent successes of teams like the Harambee Starlets (Kenya) and the Crested Cranes (Uganda) in qualifying for continental tournaments signal immense untapped potential.
The growth of women’s football is an opportunity for the region to avoid the historical baggage that weighs down the men’s leagues – if there’s dedicated investment and governance reform.
The continued support for the women’s game from Fifa is already paying dividends. East African teams have qualified for age group competitions at the global level.
How can passion be turned into future success?
The greatest opportunity lies in the very thing that makes the sport strong in the region: its passionate and popular foundation.
It requires a focus on two areas:
Reform and professionalisation. Managing finances transparently and rooting out political interference. Focusing on long-term, merit-based leadership within federations. Professionalising the domestic leagues to keep and develop local talent.
Investment in youth and infrastructure. Dedicated funding is needed for grassroots and youth development programmes. Building and maintaining quality training facilities must be a priority.
East Africa’s football destiny does not have to be perpetual failure. By calling on the region’s shared identity and addressing the deep-seated organisational flaws, east Africans can finally begin to translate their profound love for the game into the international success their fans deserve.
– East Africa’s dismal football record doesn’t match its passion – what needs to happen – https://theconversation.com/east-africas-dismal-football-record-doesnt-match-its-passion-what-needs-to-happen-270479
